Westmoreland category, Page 310

Art in the early years of Westmoreland County wasn’t limited to a canvas and paint brush. Woodworkers around the area with impressive skill created beautiful pieces that stood the test of time, as displayed in the Penn’s Woods exhibit at Westmoreland Historical Society’s education center. One of those woodworkers was...

Police are looking for the driver of a Jeep Wrangler who hit a marked state police car Saturday at 8 p.m. in South Huntingdon and fled. The hit and run of the police car occurred on Route 31 just east of Route 136, according to a state police press release....

Hempfield Area School District students stand to gain several perks — including space for a student union and new performance arts and athletic wings — once a multimillion-dollar high school renovation project is completed, drawings show. Officials with Oakmont-­based SitelogiQ and Bellevue-­based Core Architects recently presented school directors with schematic...

Individuals who want to challenge a book or item they deem inappropriate in Hempfield Area School District would have more ways to do so under a policy proposed by the school board. Board members who sit on the district’s policy committee last week dove into a proposal that would tweak...

Runners are relaying a baton in support of emergency first responders. The Great American Relay is heading through Westmoreland County on Monday, and Amanda Sage is putting down her flute to carry the baton from Irwin to Adamsburg. “My family is military, and I feel drawn to that cause. I...

Pickleball — the game that is part tennis and part Ping-Pong — is soaring in popularity in the region and is gaining a higher profile in Westmoreland County. Two local YMCAs, in downtown Greensburg and in the Mt. Pleasant area, have expanded their pickleball offerings. The Greensburg YMCA is reintroducing...

Firefighters from across the county will pack up their gear and respond to Westmoreland Mall on Tuesday, but it won’t be for an emergency. Instead, the group will be stationed outside the Hempfield facility to participate in the area’s 26th annual Fire Prevention Night hosted by Hempfield and Greensburg officials....

Westmoreland County has sent out the first batch of more than 14,000 mail-in ballots to voters, the election bureau director said Friday. “Our goal was to get them in the mail (Friday), and, starting today, people should start receiving them in their mailboxes,” Greg McCloskey said. As of Friday, Westmoreland...

Hempfield residents have an opportunity this month to comment on proposed middle school consolidation plans and the possible closure of Harrold Middle School. The public hearing — scheduled for 6 p.m. Oct. 24 in the high school auditorium — will allow residents to voice their opinions on the plans, which...

It’s not every school that gets a visit by an Army Black Hawk helicopter in conjunction with its homecoming festivities. That was the case at Norwin High School on Friday, when a Pennsylvania Army National Guard Black Hawk choppered into a high school parking lot. “It’s something different for the...

Will Vega of Hempfield discovered the joy of painting by watching the long-running PBS show by that name, hosted by the late artist Bob Ross, who encouraged his students by saying, “We don’t make mistakes, just happy little accidents.” “I studied his technique, and he convinced me that I could...

The Community Foundation of Murrysville, Export and Delmont is seeking applicants for small, community-based grants. “We’ve now distributed over $30,000 since 2006,” said foundation board member Roberta Cook. “Everything from the water trough in Delmont, to fancy grass seed for the Morosini Reserve, to an AED (defibrillator) for Franklin Regional...

An out-of-work police dog might join Jeannette’s force, depending on whether city council wants to foot the bill for some costs for the canine and its handler. Officer Matthew Painter was permitted to keep 5-year-old Dutch shepherd, Kilo, after he left the Uniontown department for Jeannette last year, according to...

Three people are facing charges in a South Huntingdon burglary, according to court papers. Michael F. Walz, 35, of Elizabeth is accused of taking $1,065 and a pistol from a home, according to court papers. He is charged with burglary, theft and criminal mischief. Autumn M. Weigle, 30, of Smithton...

A Greensburg man is accused by state police of driving a girl to Linn Run State Park and raping her, according to court papers. Troopers said they found DNA evidence on a shirt the accuser was wearing that is likely from Tyler A. Mastro, 22. He was arrested this week...

PennDOT is planning intermittent closures of two sections of Depot Street in Youngwood beginning Monday . Previously announced nighttime lane restrictions on Route 22 in the New Alexandria area and on Interstate 70 in Rostraver have been delayed and now are set to start on Monday and on Oct. 14,...

The lawyer for a Greensburg man charged in connection with a shootout earlier this year in downtown Greensburg wants a separate trial from another man with whom police said he exchanged gunfire. In court documents filed this week, attorney Brent McCune said the defenses of his client, Evan Curley, and...

A Fayette County man charged with providing drugs to a former high school friend who died two years ago from an overdose claims his confession was a result of improper questioning by police. Steven Shively, 33, of Everson is awaiting trial on charges of drug delivery resulting in death and...

Waleed Farag knows all too well the growing need for computer systems security professionals. As director of Indiana University of Pennsylvania’s Institute for Cyber Security, he is hoping to address the steadily increasing demand for computer-based professionals by tapping the resources of six community colleges, including Westmoreland County Community College....

Peyton Benner did not have a fun, carefree summer like some of her classmates at Yough Middle School. The South Huntingdon girl instead spent the warm months recovering after being hit by a pickup while riding a hoverboard May 28 on the street where she lives in the village of...

A touch of pink is coming to local hospitals and football games for Breast Cancer Awareness month. Excela Frick, Excela Latrobe and Excela Westmoreland Hospitals will be lit up pink throughout October to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer treatments. “All three front facades will be flooded with pink,...

A group of fifth grade students at Norwin’s Hillcrest Intermediate School will sell pumpkins at 4 p.m. Friday outside the Advance Auto Parts in the Norwin Hills Shopping Center along Route 30 in North Huntingdon. The effort will raise money for Andrew’s Avengers, which helps to support children and their...

A search was conducted in the Herminie area Thursday for a man who has been missing for almost a month. Trooper Steve Limani said troopers were not successful in finding Aaron D. Ross, 43. He was last seen in Herminie Sept. 7 wearing a red/orange shirt, denim blue jeans and...

A former employee of the Sunoco station in Delmont was caught breaking into the store late Wednesday, according to borough police. John A. Balistrieri, 61, of Greensburg Street in Delmont was charged with burglary, criminal trespassing, prowling and disorderly conduct, after police said he used an employee key to unlawfully...

A South Greensburg man is facing charges after Greensburg police said he threw rocks at passing vehicles Monday, causing damage to one. James G. Wilbur, 54, is charged with propelling a missile into occupied vehicles, reckless endangerment, criminal mischief, simple assault and harassment. Police Chief Shawn Denning said officers first...